“She Should Focus on Music” – Reuben Abati Criticizes Nicki Minaj’s UN Remarks

 

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Ex-presidential aide Reuben Abati has sparked debate following his reaction to Nicki Minaj’s recent address at the United Nations in New York. Minaj, the internationally renowned rapper from Trinidad and Tobago, had spoken at the UN alongside U.S. Ambassador Mike Waltz, focusing on the alleged persecution of Christians in Nigeria. 

While her intervention drew global attention and stirred discussions, Abati insists that her involvement was ill-advised and motivated more by personal visibility than genuine concern for the issue.

Speaking on Arise News, Abati emphasized that Nicki Minaj lacks the contextual knowledge and expertise required to speak authoritatively on such sensitive matters. “Nicki Minaj is a rapper from Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago. 

She should focus on her Anaconda music, her rap music, and her Barbs,” Abati remarked, underlining his view that the Grammy-winning artist was stepping outside her domain. 

According to him, her address, despite the endorsement from U.S. officials, appeared to be a strategic move to gain clout rather than a meaningful attempt to influence international discourse on Nigeria’s human rights situation.

Abati further argued that international actors leveraging celebrity influence should prompt Nigeria to consider similar strategies.

 “If the Americans are now using influencers, we also have ours. If I were advising on strategy, the moment Nicki Minaj was speaking, we should have put Tiwa Savage on national television to express her patriotic opinions,” he said.

 His comments reflect a broader concern about the country’s image on the global stage and the need for Nigerian public figures to actively participate in shaping international narratives about national issues.

The former presidential aide’s remarks highlight the growing intersection between celebrity culture and international diplomacy.

 While some view Minaj’s intervention as an opportunity to amplify awareness of critical human rights concerns, critics like Abati see it as an example of how fame can overshadow expertise. 

For Abati, Nigeria must be proactive in ensuring that the voices representing its interests abroad are knowledgeable, credible, and aligned with national priorities.

Abati’s perspective also touches on the role of Nigerian celebrities in global discussions. He suggests that the nation could leverage the popularity and influence of its own artists to defend its image and communicate its perspective whenever international conversations touch on domestic issues. 

By doing so, Nigeria would maintain agency in the portrayal of its socio-political realities rather than being subjected to external interpretations shaped by non-experts.

Nicki Minaj’s UN appearance has undeniably sparked worldwide conversation about Nigeria, its policies, and the treatment of its Christian population. 

The rapper’s influence has brought attention to an issue that may have otherwise gone unnoticed by a global audience. 

However, the backlash from figures like Abati underscores the tension between celebrity involvement in political discourse and the need for informed commentary from individuals with direct expertise.

Ultimately, the incident raises questions about the balance between advocacy and performance, the role of celebrities in international human rights discussions, and Nigeria’s strategy in managing its global image. 

Abati’s comments serve as a reminder that while celebrity voices can be powerful, they are not always a substitute for informed, strategic representation of national interests on the world stage.

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